Independents Continue Rightward Shift • Politico

With both parties battling to gain traction with independent voters, Democrats rejoiced in Christine O’Donnell’s upset victory in the Delaware Republican primary ovwer moderate Rep. Mike Castle. They claimed that her candidacy is likely to alienate independent voters and cost the GOP the Senate seat — and maybe even the Senate.

Indeed, the initial Rasmussen Reports post-primary survey suggests that the Democrat Chris Coons is the likely, but not certain, winner in the election — leading O’Donnell 53 percent to 42 percent.

But a more detailed examination of independents, who make up the bulk of swing voters in this race, shows no real slippage. Indeed, there has been a gain in Republican support among this key voting bloc since our initial survey.